Dental Law

At Newtons Solicitors, our specialist dental law solicitors provide dental legal services for practice owners and dental professionals

We offer comprehensive dental legal advice to dentists and dental practice owners, and are particularly experienced in transactional and structural work within the dental sector.

We recognise that dental practices operate differently from other businesses because they must consider NHS contracts, CQC requirements and associate arrangements. Our dental practice solicitors will work with you to manage these factors clearly and efficiently, so you can focus on running your practice.

Our Dental Law Services

Our dental law solicitors regularly advise dental practice owners and practitioners on the following matters:

• Dental practice acquisitions and sales

Buying or selling a dental practice is more complex than a standard business sale because NHS contract transfers, CQC registrations, premises arrangements and staff matters need to be appropriately managed in conjunction with the core transaction.

We have experience advising on sales and purchases of NHS, private and mixed practices, ensuring dental-specific issues are identified early and addressed alongside the legal and commercial documentation.

• Expense sharing agreements

Expense sharing agreements (ESAs) are contracts between two or more dentists or practices, who agree to share common operational costs without merging their businesses or profits. ESAs are common in dental practices, but they are often poorly documented or out of date.

Our dental practice solicitors draft and review agreements that clearly set out how costs are shared, how decisions are made and what happens if circumstances change, helping to reduce the risk of dental disputes.

• Partnership agreements

When two or more parties in the dental sector agree to run a shared dental practice, a clear and practical agreement is essential. We advise on the creation and review of partnership agreements, from profit sharing to management responsibilities, and ensure exit provisions, such as retirement, death or incapacity, are included.

• Employment contracts

Employment arrangements within dental practices require careful handling, particularly in the context of a dental practice acquisition. We advise on employment contracts and obligations under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) where applicable, including the requirement to inform and consult with staff during a transfer.

• Associate and dental hygienist agreements

Well-drafted associate and hygienist agreements, which are legally binding agreements between dental practice owners and self-employed dentists and hygienists, are key to setting expectations and protecting both parties. Our dental law solicitors prepare agreements that reflect how dental practices actually operate, helping to minimise uncertainty and reduce the scope for dental disputes.

• 24-hour retirements

A 24-hour retirement allows eligible NHS dentists to access pension benefits without permanently stepping away from dental practice. We provide dental legal advice on this process and help ensure the necessary steps are completed correctly and the transition is handled smoothly.

Newtons Solicitors’ Experience with Dental Law

We understand the commercial and regulatory pressures faced by dentists, particularly when embarking on a dental practice sale, a dental practice acquisition or restructure. Transactions often involve tight timeframes, multiple third parties and decisions that have both business and personal consequences. We appreciate the challenges of managing these transactions around surgery hours, so we work flexibly to ensure that our dental clients can focus on their patients without unnecessary disruption or distraction, while we focus on providing clear dental legal advice at each stage, helping you understand what needs to happen and why.

Our specialist dental legal team has:

• Experience advising on dental transactions and practice structures.
• A team of experts providing comprehensive advice across corporate, property and employment law.
• Clear pricing options that are discussed at the outset, a commitment to transparent billing and an assurance of no “nasty surprises” regarding fees.
• An excellent reputation and a proven track record of offering practical, commercial dental legal advice, focused on solutions and outcomes.